From Displacement to Resettlement: Assessing Livelihood Changes and Participation of Coal-Mining-Displaced Families in Angul District Odisha

Coal mining-induced displacement often results in significant changes in household livelihoods, socio-economic conditions and access to basic services. This study aims at analysing the livelihood changes and participation of project-displaced households in the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) process due to selected Utkal Coal Mining Projects within the Chhendipada Block of Angul district, Odisha. A quantitative approach of cross-sectional design was adopted in this study where project-displaced households form the unit of analysis. Data on the socio-economic and livelihood conditions before and after displacement as well as participation in the R & R process of selected projects were collected using primary data collection instruments namely household survey. This study makes use of the responses of 400 project-displaced households through descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, comparisons and test of association and difference. The findings reveal that displacement had implications on selected socio-economic and livelihood conditions of project-displaced households. Significant pre- and post-displacement differences were found on selected indicators such as income adequacy, access to social facilities, living conditions and livelihood conditions while no significant differences were found on other indicators. Findings further reveal moderate levels of participation of project-displaced households in the R & R process through information, consultation and participation for feedback. Participation of households in the R & R process does not differ significantly with regard to gender, village and social category. Significant positive association between R&R participation and post-displacement socio-economic and livelihood conditions highlights the significance of participation in the resettlement process.